Eastlake, CO 80614-0448
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P.O. Box 448 Eastlake, CO 80614-0448 |
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Colorado Romance Writers is pleased to announce the 2010 Heart of the Rockies Contest for unpublished writers. Numerous past Heart of the Rockies entrants have gone on to publication in book-length fiction. This year, there will be nine categories with achievement awards given in each. Entries are limited to the first 215 received. Entries received after the limit is achieved will be returned to the owner. Every entry will be judged by two experienced judges, at least one of whom will be a published author. Manuscripts that qualify for a final round will be judged by editors or agents. Finalists will be notified no later than September 1, 2010. First Place winner in each category will receive $25; all finalists will receive a certificate. In addition, winners will be announced in the Romance Writers Report. Entrants will receive one written critique and two comprehensive evaluations of their work based on twenty different potential problem areas. Each category uses an individualized score sheet for its particular genre. SAVE POSTAGE, PAPER, AND PRINTING COSTS! AN ALL ELECTRONIC CONTEST! NO PAPER SUBMISSIONS! If paying by PAYPAL, the entry form can be electronic also. If submitting electronically, the person entering the contest understands that submission constitutes a signature. If paying by check, the entry form must be printed and submitted with a signature by snail mail to Colorado Romance Writers, P. O. Box 448, Eastlake, CO 80614-0448. Once we receive your entry and payment, the coordinator will send you an email with a link to which coordinator to send your submission and synopsis to. Names shall not appear anywhere on the submission entry or synopsis. CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONSEROTIC Novels under 70,000 words with explicit language and erotic adult content. (Examples: Ellora’s Cave.) LONG CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic relationship with a proposal length of at least 60,000 words. (Examples: Harlequin American, Superromance, Silhouette Special Edition) SHORT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic relationship with a proposal length of less than 60,000 words. (Examples: Harlequin Presents, Romance and Temptation; Silhouette Desire and Romance; Avalon) SINGLE TITLE ROMANCE Contemporary romantic novels not printed as part of a series. (Examples: Mira; Avon). Projected length of over 70,000 words. ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Novels that contain a strong element of suspense or mystery mixed with romance. This may include gothic-style romances if they are set in modern times. HISTORICAL ROMANCE Novels that feature romance in time periods other than the present. Most editors consider historicals as books set in times prior to World War I. Entrants submitting Gothics will have to decide whether their entries fit better here or in the Suspense category. (Examples: Avon, Zebra, Harlequin Historicals and all Regency lines) PARANORMAL/TIME TRAVEL/FUTURISTIC/FANTASY Novels that mix romance with elements of the paranormal, time travel or fantasy. (Examples: Love Spell; Jove Time Passages, Magical Love) INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE Novels featuring an inspirational message of personal religious faith conveyed as a major element of the plot and not used as a plot device or subplot. Examples: Love Inspired; Waterbrook Press; Palisades; Barbour/Heart Songs; Multnomah Publishers) MAINSTREAM WITH ROMANTIC ELEMENTS A work of fiction not belonging in another category that contains a strong romantic element, such that one or more romances contained in the story form an integral part of the story’s structure, but in which other themes or stories may also be significantly developed. ****Warning—The synopsis may be critical in judging this category if the Hero/Heroine do not meet in the 1st 30pgs and if the romance is not introduced yet. |
Each entry is judged by two experienced judges, one of whom is a published author. A score sheet focusing on 20 problem areas (with a total of 105 possible points) is used by each. Judges may make comments on the score sheet and may also choose to write on the manuscript. The entry fee also includes one separate, 1-page critique discussing the manuscript’s strong and weak points and suggestions for improvement. Please keep in mind that judging is subjective. Manuscripts that qualify for a final round will be judged by editors or agents. Awards will be announced on October 10, 2009. First Place winner in each category will receive $25; all finalists will receive a certificate. In addition, winners will be announced in the Romance Writers Report. Submission consisting of the first two chapters and the complete 1-5 page synopsis, saved in RTF format only, total entry is not to exceed 35 double-spaced pages. There should be no cover page in the attachment. Only one version of each manuscript will be accepted. Do not submit more than once. Do not follow up with a paper entry. Include, in the body of the email, your real name, address, telephone number, title of the entry, and category in which the entry should be judged. If your PayPal payment is paid by someone other than you, please include that also so we may cross-reference. Your submission should be an attachment using the rich text font format. It will NOT be accepted unless it is saved as an RTF format. You may enter as many manuscripts as you wish in each category, but each must be accompanied by both an official entry form (photocopies acceptable) and the correct entry fee, either by check or PayPal. If submitting paypal, the entry form may be emailed directly. At the time of submission, you may not have had this work nor any other work in novel-length romantic fiction of yours accepted for publication, including e-published and self-published. Manuscripts must be suitable for submission in contest format (typed with the acceptable fonts and double-spaced to be easier on the judges’ eyes, with 1” margins all around, 25-27 manuscript lines per page.) WE ARE AWARE THIS ISN’T ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION FORMAT, HOWEVER, IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR JUDGING At the top of each manuscript page in the header, you must print the title of the entry and the category entered. Page numbers will be included at the top of the submission. Your name should appear ONLY on the cover sheet which is the body of the email. If it appears on any of your attached manuscript pages, your entry will be disqualified. Send your entry as ONE attachment in .rtf format, with your 1-5 page synopsis placed at the beginning of your submission, followed by the Prologue/Chapters 1 & 2, for a total of no more than 35 PAGES. All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and must accompany your manuscript. Checks or money orders should be made payable to COLORADO ROMANCE WRITERS. Or use the Paypal options below. A submission will not be considered entered into the contest unless a payment has been received. There will be no mailing of paper submissions this year.|
"Your Heart of the Rockies judges did a great job with their helpful comments! Because of their help, I reworked parts of the beginning and the rest of my first novel. After I pitched the entire manuscript at the 1999 RWA convention, I sold it 4 weeks later. A Little Office Romance will be a Harlequin American October 2000 release!" -- Michele Dunaway "My story RESTLESS took first place in the Heart of the Rockies Romantic Suspense category, as judged by Janet Tanke. Well, two years, two editors, and two rewrites later, Silhouette Intimate Moments is buying the book! The book will be on sale next summer under the pen name of Jenna Mills!!! This, my first sale, can be directly linked back to your contest, so I want to extend my warmest, warmest gratitude to the entire chapter. Incidentally, another story of mine placed second in long contemporary this year and is also under consideration." --Jennifer Miller The Heart of the Rockies contest was voted the 6th favorite contest by Romance Writers of America members, by virtue of its excellent feedback. The Heart of the Rockies score sheet was also selected by the Silver Lining Committee for use as its contest score sheet. |
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Heart of the Rockies